Colts Are Not Trading DE Dwight Freeney

New Colts GM Ryan Grigson made it pretty apparent that they’re not looking to trade DE Dwight Freeney, despite the previous rumors that had suggested as much.

“I’m looking forward to Dwight Freeney being part of the Colts’ defense in 2012,” Grigson said, per Mike Chappell. “He will be a Colt.”

The logic seemed to be fairly sound. Freeney carries a $19 million cap number for the 2012 season and the shift to a hybrid 3-4 defense isn’t exactly the best fit for a guy like Freeney. It wasn’t going to be easy for them to find many takers considering the huge cap hit that would come from making such a move and parting with draft picks on top of it doesn’t make much sense either.

Freeney, 32, is still a top-ten pass rusher in the league but his defense has really fallen off. He’ll also be a free agent at the end of the season so the Colts are probably ok with taking a compensatory draft pick in return for him signing elsewhere.